An orchidist can add to his collection inexpensively if he can work with backbulbs and orchid rescues. There is no single method for sprouting backbulbs. The main ingredient is practice, practice, practice.

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Plants on EBay

I have no plants on eBay this week. The auction usually ends at 4pm PST on Saturday.

NOTE: many of the links and pictures have a popup that shows more when you hover the mouse over them.

What are orchid backbulbs?

Backbulbs are the older generations of growth that have been removed from an orchid. Often, when a plant is divided, older pseudobulbs are cut off to make the plant fit the pot better. These may be thrown away, but sometimes they are given as gifts to help a friend expand her collection, or sold when the plant is valuable.

That's what this blog and website are all about; being ready when that wonderful gift of a collectable backbulb comes your way. There is as much art as science in getting backbulbs started.

I subscribe to OrchidSpecies.com which is my primary source for orchid species information.

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Thursday, November 22, 2012

Dendrobium lindleyi

Quite a few orchids need less water in winter. With a Dendrobium lindleyi I have to go much farther than that. This is one of the species that needs a real dry winter rest in order to bloom. I have tried various way to cut back, but the only thing that works is to stop watering completely until in blooms. I am starting that today, moving it where it will get no water at all.

Dendrobium lindleyi grows from India to Vietnam. It is warm to hot growing and needs a dry winter rest. As the flowers mature, the color deepens.